The North Saanich Rod & Gun Club traces its roots back to 1908, making it one of the longstanding recreational organizations on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria, British Columbia. Founded during a time when North Saanich was a rural farming and fishing community, the club emerged from the strong outdoor traditions of local residents who valued hunting, marksmanship, and community sporting events.

In its early years, the club was a shotgun club located on Beacon Ave, west of the Pat Bay Highway. Eventually population growth caused a move to near its present location on McTavish Road, renting 6 acres of land from the Paquachin First Nation. In 1972, the members purchased 6.73 acres of land on McTavish Road immediately east of the Paquachin First Nation. NSRG established its permanent home at 1353 McTavish Road. During the first half of the twentieth century, shooting competitions and sporting gatherings became important social events for residents of Sidney, Deep Cove, Ardmore, and surrounding communities.

The club’s history closely mirrors the transformation of the Saanich Peninsula itself. Through both World Wars, the Great Depression, and the rapid growth that followed the construction of Patricia Bay Airport during the 1940s, the organization continued to evolve while maintaining its focus on safe, responsible recreational shooting and outdoor heritage.

At its McTavish Road property, generations of volunteers helped build and maintain the club’s facilities through member labour and fundraising. A notable chapter in its modern history came after the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, when materials from the Games shooting competitions were repurposed into portions of the club’s range infrastructure of today.

Throughout its history, the club has emphasized volunteerism, safety education, mentorship, and sportsmanship. Over the decades it grew into both a recreational facility and a gathering place where skills, traditions, and friendships were passed from one generation to the next.

Today, the North Saanich Rod & Gun Club continues to preserve more than a century of Peninsula outdoor tradition. Community events, historical demonstrations, and educational programs reflect the club’s ongoing commitment to heritage, responsible recreation, and service to the local community.